The Easiest 100 Mile Races for Your First Finish (2027)

The short answer

The easiest 100 mile race for your first finish is the Tunnel Hill 100 in Vienna, Illinois: a flat rail trail, cool November weather and a 30-hour cutoff. Brazos Bend 100 in Texas is a close second, if you can handle the humidity.

I ran my first 100 miles on November 28, 2020, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to raise money for childhood cancer research.

I didn't have a coach. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. So I mapped out a 1-mile loop around my neighborhood, 1.02 miles to be exact, and decided I was just going to run 100 miles.

It was all on road. No trail, no elevation, nothing technical. My aid station was a pop-up tent in the driveway, with a fire.

Pierce Showe running his neighborhood loop with a friend during his first 100-mile run — Company on the loop during my first 100.

Pop-up tent with Christmas lights, a fire pit and a 100 Miles for Cancer Research sign that served as Pierce Showe's aid station during his first 100-mile run — My "aid station": a tent in the driveway.

You don't have to run 100 laps around your neighborhood. There are real races built for a first 100: flat courses, mild weather and generous cutoffs. I ranked eight of them below, from hardest to easiest, using four things: temperature, terrain, elevation gain and the cutoff.

8. American Bottoms 113

Two runners on a paved levee path through the Mississippi River bottoms at American Bottoms — Runners on the levee, from the American Bottoms race photos.

American Bottoms finisher belt buckle with an enameled American flag — The buckle, from back when the race was 110 miles.

Where: Columbia, IL (just south of St. Louis)
When: March 20, 2027, 6 a.m. start
Distance: 113 miles, out and back
Elevation gain: ~1,591 ft
Avg high / low: ~58° / 39°
Cutoff: 35 hours

One of you suggested this one in the comments on my last 100-mile list, and I had to add it. The course is flat, there are 17 aid stations, and the 35-hour cutoff is the most generous on this list.

It's #8 for one reason: it's 113 miles, not 100. That's 13 extra miles on legs that already ran 100. It's also small. Only 11 runners finished the 113 in 2026, so expect long stretches alone.

7. Prairie Spirit 100

A runner passing an old grain building in Colony, Kansas, on the Prairie Spirit Trail — A runner passing through Colony, Kansas, from the Prairie Spirit race photos.

Where: Ottawa, KS
When: April 3, 2027
Terrain: Out and back from Ottawa to Iola on crushed limestone, with some asphalt through town
Elevation gain: ~1,800 ft
Avg high / low: ~60° / 38°
Cutoff: 30 hours (the turnaround cutoff was 14 hours in 2026)

A rail trail across the Kansas prairie, so the grades stay gentle the whole way. You run 50 miles south to Iola, turn around and come back.

It's harder than the races below because there's no loop. You don't pass your crew and drop bags every few hours, and you have to hit the turnaround in time.

6. Hennepin Hundred

A runner crossing an old steel truss bridge along the Hennepin Canal with fall leaves — Crossing one of the old canal bridges, from the Hennepin Hundred race photos.

Where: Sterling to Colona, IL
When: October 2, 2027
Terrain: Point to point on the Hennepin Canal towpath: packed dirt, crushed limestone and chip seal
Elevation gain: ~1,100 ft
Avg high / low: 65° / 45°
Cutoff: 30 hours

A flat towpath along the old Hennepin Canal, and early October in northern Illinois is cool. Point to point means you never repeat a mile.

It also means you never come back to the start, so your crew and drop bags take more planning. And the cutoff is 30 hours, not 32.

5. Long Haul 100

A runner on a trail through pines and palmettos at Colt Creek State Park during the Long Haul 100 — Pines and palmettos at Colt Creek State Park, from the Long Haul race photos.

Where: Colt Creek State Park, Lakeland, FL
When: January 16, 2027
Terrain: Six loops of 16.8 miles
Elevation gain: ~1,200 ft
Avg high / low: 69° / 51°
Cutoff: 32 hours

Six loops, so you see your drop bag every 16.8 miles, with a 32-hour cutoff. It's the warmest race on this list, which is great if you hate the cold, and finishing under 30 hours earns you a Western States lottery ticket.

The catch: the 2027 race is already sold out, and the waitlist is turned off for now. If you want it, keep an eye on it for 2028.

See the Long Haul 100 →

4. The Pistol 100

A pedestrian bridge over a grassy greenway in Alcoa, Tennessee, from The Pistol race photos — The greenway in Alcoa, from The Pistol race photos.

Where: Alcoa, TN
When: March 13, 2027, 8 a.m. start
Terrain: Ten paved loops of 10 miles
Elevation gain: ~2,000 ft
Avg high / low: 61° / 39°
Cutoff: 32 hours

This is the closest thing on this list to my first 100: loops on pavement. You come through the aid station every 10 miles, and the 32-hour cutoff gives you plenty of room.

Pavement is smooth, but it's hard on your legs over 100 miles. Get some long runs on the road before race day.

3. Rocky Raccoon 100

Two runners on a pine-needle trail through tall pines at Huntsville State Park — The pines at Huntsville State Park, from the Tejas Trails race photos.

Where: Huntsville State Park, Huntsville, TX
When: February 6, 2027, 6 a.m. start
Terrain: Five 20-mile loops on soft, pine-needle trail, with roots
Elevation gain: ~5,000 ft, in small rolling bits
Avg high / low: 63° / 46°
Cutoff: 32 hours

When someone asked me on Instagram what I'd recommend for a first 100, I said Brazos Bend or Rocky Raccoon. This is one of those two.

It has the most climbing on this list, but it comes in small rollers, not mountains. You pass your drop bag and crew every 20 miles, and February in east Texas is about as good as race weather gets. Watch the roots, especially at night.

It's capped and sells out, so sign up early.

2. Brazos Bend 100

Pierce Showe running the Brazos Bend 100 on a flat, tree-lined trail in Brazos Bend State Park, Texas — Me at the Brazos Bend 100 in December 2022.

Where: Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, TX
When: December 2027 (date TBA; 2026 is December 5)
Terrain: Six flat loops of 16.7 miles
Elevation gain: Under 100 ft
Race-day high / low: ~71° / 55° on average (2021–2025), and humid
Cutoff: 32 hours

I ran the Brazos Bend 100 in December 2022, and it's flat as a pancake. Under 100 feet of climbing for the whole race, sea-level altitude and a 32-hour cutoff.

I liked Brazos Bend, but it is very humid. Texas weather can be unpredictable, and it can feel a lot warmer than the December averages. When I ran it on December 3, 2022, it was 69 degrees with 100% humidity at the 6 a.m. start. Over the last five race weekends, highs ranged from 63 to 78 degrees. Start your fueling and hydration early.

Yes, there are alligators. You'll see them sunning themselves right next to the trail. But they're really nothing to worry about. They totally leave you alone, and they make for a great story at the finish.

1. Tunnel Hill 100

Runners coming out of the tunnel on the Tunnel Hill State Trail, with fall leaves on the ground — Runners coming out of the tunnel at Tunnel Hill, from the race photos.

Where: Vienna, IL
When: November 2027 (date TBA; 2026 is November 14)
Terrain: Crushed-rock rail trail, out and backs, never steeper than 2%
Elevation gain: ~1,400 ft
Avg high / low: 55° / 37°
Cutoff: 30 hours (start your second 50 miles within 15 hours)

The Tunnel Hill State Trail is an old railroad line, so the grade never gets above 2% and almost all of it is runnable. It's known as one of the fastest 100-mile courses anywhere.

It's #1 for the same reason it's #1 on my easiest 50 milers list: the weather is cool and predictable. It's the coldest race on this list, so pack warm layers for the night, and remember the cutoff is 30 hours, not 32.

Summary: the easiest 100 mile races

#	Race	Where	When	Elevation gain	Avg high / low	Cutoff
8	American Bottoms 113	Columbia, IL	Mar 20, 2027	~1,591 ft	~58° / 39°	35 hr
7	Prairie Spirit 100	Ottawa, KS	Apr 3, 2027	~1,800 ft	~60° / 38°	30 hr
6	Hennepin Hundred	Sterling, IL	Oct 2, 2027	~1,100 ft	65° / 45°	30 hr
5	Long Haul 100	Lakeland, FL	Jan 16, 2027	~1,200 ft	69° / 51°	32 hr
4	The Pistol 100	Alcoa, TN	Mar 13, 2027	~2,000 ft	61° / 39°	32 hr
3	Rocky Raccoon 100	Huntsville, TX	Feb 6, 2027	~5,000 ft	63° / 46°	32 hr
2	Brazos Bend 100	Needville, TX	Dec 2027 (TBA)	Under 100 ft	~71° / 55°*	32 hr
1	Tunnel Hill 100	Vienna, IL	Nov 2027 (TBA)	~1,400 ft	55° / 37°	30 hr

Dates marked TBA had not been announced as of November 2026. Temperatures are monthly averages for the nearest town and are approximate. *Brazos Bend shows the average race-weekend high and low from 2021 to 2025.

Picked your race? Here's how to train for your first 100 while working full time, what I learned running my first 100 and the gear you'll need on race day. Want more picks? Here are the best 100-mile races to get your first buckle.

Want to run an ultra with me in 2027?

I am taking a group of 10 to run the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim in 2027. Click below to be added to the waitlist and get access to apply early on November 20th.

Common questions

What is the easiest 100 mile race?

The Tunnel Hill 100 in Vienna, Illinois. It's a flat rail trail that never gets steeper than 2%, with cool November weather and a 30-hour cutoff. Brazos Bend in Texas is flatter, but it's very humid.

How do you train for your first 100 mile race?

Build up slowly, keep most of your running easy (RPE 2 to 3) and let your long runs peak around 35 to 40 miles. You never run 100 miles in training. Practice your fueling on every long run.

What should I look for in my first 100?

Look at temperature, terrain, elevation gain and the cutoff. Mild weather, smooth trail, less climbing and a 30- to 32-hour cutoff all improve your odds. Loop courses help too, because you pass your crew and drop bags over and over.

Do you get a medal for running 100 miles?

Most 100-mile races give you a belt buckle instead of a medal.